YOUTH TEAM EXPERIENCE THE WORKING WORLD

17 May 2016

Dale Moon

First year apprentices sent on four day work experience placement...

FOOTBALLERS are often accused of being sheltered from the outside world and are disconnected from the wider public but here at Walsall Football Club, Head of Education, Sue Lane along with Academy Manager Neil Woods set about designing a programme which would give our apprentices a sample of life in the workplace.

The pilot scheme saw nine first year apprentices experience a variety of professions over the four day placement.

Co-Operative Travel, Tesco, Bar Hale/BCS, RAC, Walsall Housing Group and Co-Op Retail offered their support to the programme and welcomed our players through their doors.

Full List of Placements:

Bradley Caswell – Co-Op Retail Broadway

Tobias Hayles-Docherty – BarHale/BCS

Will Shorrock, Ashley Maddocks, Callum Cockerill-Mollett – RAC

Dan Vann – Walsall Housing Group

Lezion Cela – CoOp Travel Walsall

Cameron Peters – Tesco Hereford

Sam Tonks – Co-Op Sedgley

Following their placement, the players attended a debriefing session where they discussed the past four days and how it made them evaluate their position at the club.

“We felt that the players are in a very privileged position and needed to experience the world outside of football,” said Head of Education, Sue Lane. “I said I’d find placements for the players and I had the support of Neil Woods right from the first minute.

“They’ve now had that experience of meeting and talking with people who are outside the football world and who have to earn a living the way most of us have to.

“It was about stepping into the shoes of someone in an office environment or a 9-5 job because theirs environment is so different. Players have realised that they have a great opportunity to forge a career in football.

“Their responses at the debrief were that it was a hard week and an ‘eye opener’ for some of them. A few mentioned how it makes you want to achieve in football which tells us that the placement fulfilled what we wanted it to.

“They also said how it helped with their confidence and provides an insight into different environments so we’re pleased with them.

“The employers’ feedback was really encouraging as well. They said our boys had excellent application and were a credit to the football club. One of them was even offered a job if he doesn’t make it in football which is amazing.

“I think after seeing how successful it has been we now want to make it an integral part of their education going forwards.”